Scrapes (Abrasions)

Teen Version

What is a scrape?

A scrape, or abrasion, is an area of skin that has been
scraped during a fall (for example, a floor burn or skinned
knee).

How can I take care of myself?

Cleaning the scrape

First, wash your hands. Then wash the wound vigorously
for at least 5 minutes with warm water and liquid soap.
The area will probably need to be scrubbed several times
with a wet gauze to get all the dirt out. You may have
to remove some dirt particles (for example, gravel) with
a tweezers. If there is tar in the wound, it can often
be removed by rubbing it with petroleum jelly, followed
by soap and water again. Pieces of loose skin should be
cut off with sterile scissors, especially if the pieces of
skin are dirty. Rinse the wound well.

Antibiotic ointments and dressing

Apply an antibiotic ointment and cover the scrape with a
Band-Aid or gauze dressing. This is especially important
for scrapes over joints (such as the elbow, knee, or
hand) that are always being stretched. Cracking and
reopening at these sites can be prevented with an
antibiotic ointment, which keeps the crust soft. Cleanse
the area once a day with warm water and then reapply the
ointment and dressing until the scrape is healed.

Pain relief

Because abrasions can hurt badly, take acetaminophen
(Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) as needed.

This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.